Evidence: |
'The other day some people from “The Gentlewoman” came to interview me and wished to put an account if me into their paper. I hate being public property and so refused though I acknowledged their kind intentions & the compliment they had paid me. If I once give myself into the hands of such people I shall not be able to breathe without the Editorial watch being produced to count the seconds – and I can’t live with the grip of the public ranter on my poor little wrist. I shall either long for it to tighten & deteriorate in consequence, or the publicity will make me die of shyness. I talked to the good ladies (who were much astonished that anyone would refuse to be set out in their excellent magazine), but remained firm - & they had to retire with no more ink wasted on their huge mss. They brought large enough books for their notes – poor things and it was a cold day. . . The Spectator I see is one of the adverse critics on my little Urmi. They cannot understand the Indian language naturally – and I think perhaps they are a bit angry about an Indian getting into so good a Magazine. They wish “if Indians are to take a part in our literature that they would do something separate” – Bosh! What red-Tafeism – as if we contaminate their literature. They say too it is “hardly local” – because any woman might feel the same. I daresay they fancy that because Indian women are not English they can’t have any nice feelings as to their ties to their husbands or to their children. However I don’t mind for they abuse Mr Knowles in the same paper.' |